Rememberance day

[alonebfg]

i know this is probley sill. but i know there a few xservice people use this fourm and i would just like remind people if its ok that rememberance day is not just for the people in world war 1 + 2 but is about all are service men an women who died fighting for this country. I hope people dont mind it just upset me today when somone said to me world war 1 + 2 were two long ago and should be forgot. I know people who have died in Iraq ok they are not fighting to defend us but they are doing what they are told to and risk there live to do it. ( I am sorry if i affend anybody)

[alan-d]

No offence taken - I totally agree.

 

We should also remember those that died serving but not necessarily in a conflict. We tend to forget those that are killed training to defend us.

[GrumbleDook]

It is not just those that died that we should remember, but those still alive.

 

4,000,000 ex-service people have a long-term inllness or disability.

180,000 ex-service men and women are never visited by a relative.

927,000 ex-Service people live on an annual household income of £5,000 or less.

More than 12,000 British Service men and women have been killed or injured on active service since 1945 in conflicts up to the present day, including Bosnia, the Falklands, Afghanistan and Iraq.

There has only been one year (1968) since the Second World War when a British Service person has not been killed on active duty.

 

The Royal British Legion are one of the most supportive organisations you could ever hope to come across and I am thankful of the help and support they have given to the families of those taken from us in recent and present conflicts. I am also grateful to them for the support they have given several friends who have suffered from PTSD and Gulf War Syndrome.

 

If you do not give to any other charity this year I would say a donation to the Poppy Appeal and Children in Need are the best way you can give something back.

[contink]

It is not just those that died that we should remember, but those still alive.

Agreed... totally..

 

If you do not give to any other charity this year I would say a donation to the Poppy Appeal and Children in Need are the best way you can give something back.

Can I just note, hopefully without taking this topic OT, that there's a plethora of 6th formers and children at your schools who get involved in stuff like this so please do support them..

 

.. and definitely no offense taken, it needed saying.

[russdev]

I still one for we should have nov 11th a bank holiday like our american counsins I also think that 27 june (our Veterans Day) should also be bank holiday.

 

Russ

[Tempest]

I entirely agree, both with the bank holiday idea and the remembering those living and dead who have put themselves in the firing line.

[alonebfg]

I am glade i am not the only one who thinks the same way i do but i know there are some people who dont i got really upset last year as one shop still kept trading during 2 min silince i was so annoyed i refused to buy anything in there. By the way i would just like to say the Royal British Legion are the best having just been medicaly discharged they have been nothing but help also the Vetrains Agency. But even if you are not a Royal British Legion member they will try to help you one of the best i have ever come across.

Thank You

[Jake]

We should all remember everyone who fought in war, including the enemy

[Disease]

I think I should have my own rememberance day just for me. It should be an annual event.

[NetDiag]

In vietnam he was nineteen, n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-nineteeeeen! purple heart n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-nineteen!

 

Mei Ling once say: Hello GeeAye me love you long time!

[GrumbleDook]

This is one of the few times I would ask that this thread stays relatively serious ...

 

As someone who has family and friends who have benefitted from the Poppy appeal I cannot stress how important it is.

[Netman]

This is one of the few times I would ask that this thread stays relatively serious ...

 

As someone who has family and friends who have benefitted from the Poppy appeal I cannot stress how important it is.

 

Quite right Tony - no place for trying to be funny...

 

Respect for those who died or were injured defending our country or even those training to defend it should be given without hesitation and with gratitude for their sacrifices on our behalf.

 

Wear your poppy with pride...

[alan-d]

For the Fallen

by Laurenc Binon

 

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

 

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

 

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

 

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

 

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England's foam.

 

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night;

 

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,

To the end, to the end, they remain.

[alonebfg]

very nice i like it its all there

[SpuffMonkey]

 

4,000,000 ex-service people have a long-term inllness or disability.

 

You sure about that GD? I find it hard to believe that 10% of adults in the UK have been affected in this way??

[GrumbleDook]

Stats straight from the Royal British Legion press campaign ... on posters around the country.

 

I did have some other figures from the Imperial War Museum but they are a few years out now ... (from 5 years ago). I will try and dig them out again tomorrow.

 

I would also like to point out that I am a firm supporter of HM Forces and the work they do, both in a combatative role and when providing service to the community ... but I don't think we treat them well when they leave the services. It cannot all be up to the Govt ... it is also about how they interact with society and how they adjust to it, and society adjusts to them.

 

When I was a nipper there were a few ex-service people in the local social centre who had been involved in WW2 and Korea ... and people used to avoid them as they only ever talked about war stories ...

 

Looking back I can see that many of them had things they wanted to get off their chest ... to try and help people understand about what made them then.

[Jake]

I should just clarify that I wasnt trying to be funny, I really do think that on rememberance day all who fought for their country should be remembered, both allied and enemy

[alonebfg]

Yes thats the biggest problem you have when you come out you cant tell anyone about things that happed and chat about how it used to be due to offical secrets act and noone want to know anyway and when you are old enough people think you are just going on. I belong to Submarines Old Comrades and the have some great stores and they have such a laugh but all these clubs are dying out due to lack of support and people giving them the wrong impression. This club are there for people to get to know people in the sam situation. But some people just dont understand.

here are a few navy ones

navy associations

Fleet air arm associations

sorry i cant find any for air force or army

[Amir]

Can I just note, hopefully without taking this topic OT, that there's a plethora of 6th formers and children at your schools who get involved in stuff like this so please do support them..

 

.. and definitely no offense taken, it needed saying.

 

6th form here are selling poppies and have had a talk from a man from the british legion so they now understand more about what the poppy apeal is for

[alonebfg]

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

Canadian Army

 

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

 

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

 

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

 

Inspiration for the Poem

 

On 2 May, 1915, in the second week of fighting during the Second Battle of Ypres Lieutenant Alexis Helmer was killed by a German artillery shell. He was a friend of the Canadian military doctor Major John McCrae. It is believed that John began the draft for his famous poem 'In Flanders Fields' that evening.

[k-strider]

I'm just thankfull that they gave there today for our tomorrow...

 

we had a service today in school... i think i will goto the cathedral in Gloucester on Sunday for the service... i totally respect what our militray do for us....

 

when people try to slate or disrespect our remeberance of thoes Service Personnel who died for us to be free it winds me up.... i want to beat them..

[u8dmtm]

It's very interesting this, most of the posters on this topic have always been civilians so presumably represent society. If this is so then why is decent defence spending,equipment and manpower of our forces such a low priority?

 

Just out of interest, we ran a school poll this year and last year asking whether students intended / had bought poppies, about 90% said 'Yes' on both years which is encouraging.

[alonebfg]

I am not a civilian and have just left (invalid out due to bad knees one of the most common problems) one of the main reason i found for not haveing the right equipment is companys knowing that our service needed somthing and due to procurement and contract terms fat cat became fatter and charged a arm and a leg. And they got away with it. Something that you could pay 10 pounds for the armed service would end up paying 20 things are changing but it takes time. thats what we were told.

[tickmike]

Hello All, Nice post .

Just like to say that my Daughter (12) is very proud that she is the flag bearer for St. Johns Ambulance at our local cenotaph today with lots of other young children from scouts, army cadets etc.

She went along for a practice yesterday and it turned out that they had a small ceremony because it was the 11th and an larger one today Sunday 12th.

 

Let Us Remember.

 

Michael.